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simon ramsden - ArticlesWhy You Should Visit LaosMost visitors to Laos do nothing much more energetic than knocking back a few cold Beer Lao while watching the sun set on the Mekong. Such people will simply explain the attraction of this lovely country lost in time by revealing the true meaning of ‘Laos PDR’:
‘Laos - Please Don't Rush’. Vientiane, Laos - World's Most Relaxed CapitalUnlike other southeast Asian capital cities, Vientiane is not a 24/7 frenzy of commerce. Its relaxed atmosphere makes it feel like a small town, which makes a kind of sense, for that is exactly what it is. If there were a ‘Mellowest Capital in the World’ competition, Vientiane would win hands down. Tubing the Mekong, LaosI move on, sinking into a pleasant reverie which is only interrupted by the occasional bumping of the tube into underwater rocks. I float beyond the main strip of bars, then strike up conversations with a series of random female strangers. Tubing is a very pleasant way of meeting and getting to know members of the opposite gender. If you tire of someone, all you have to do to escape is to float away and ‘accidentally’ bump into someone else. Luang Prabang, Laos - Top Ten14 children of the penultimate King Of Laos, Sisavang Vong, drowned in the Meking in maybe the biggest accidental and simultaneous loss of offspring in history. The devastated King was comforted by some of his 15 wives (including the two who were his half-sisters) and by those 35 of his surviving children who he recognized as being his own. Luang Prabang - Laos' Saffron CityLuang Prabang has a habit of putting paid to planned itineraries, so be sure to allow at least five days to take in this wonderful town. Cradled in its mountainous eyrie, the town’s location is as stunning as its temples are resplendent. Like an earl’s fading finery, Luang Prabang’s somnolent streets slumber on, largely unchanged since its ancient royal capital days. Sacred Waterworks - Bali, IndonesiaTake a break from the cold steel of modern times to be nurtured by a more symbiotic relationship with nature, in one of the most spiritually artistic places on the planet. The Ghosts of Phnom PenhFeel free to do pretty much what you like, except criticise the Government. Obviously this injunction on criticism doesn’t itself comprise criticism of the government. The authors and publishers of this book think that Cambodia’s totalitarian regime is simply wonderful – but then again we would say that, as on our next visit we’d prefer not to be asked any difficult questions by any of the government’s thought police. Angkor Wat - is it Worth the Hassle of Going to Cambodia ?Guns are widespread. So, when tempted to embark on any late nocturnal wanderings, play it safe and stay in your hotel - or potentially be parted from your Riel coins, US dollars and platinum card. The best way to navigate Cambodia is by jet: the country’s atrocious highways make Laos’ dusty tracks seem like mirror-smooth fresh tarmac. Angkor Wat - Reflections on Its ResplendenceI remember being particularly struck by an Angkor Wat sunrise where I felt like a spectator to the melding of man and nature. Unlike the sunsets that are greeted rowdily at the Angkor mountain temple Phnom Bakheng, this was a solemn and transcendent occasion, imbuing me with a strong sense of the enormity of life and the sublimity of creation. Halong Bay, Vietnam - Se Asia's Best Kayaking ?Moonlit rock giants towered over the still waters and silver beaches in timeless repose. In the dark silence, Halong Bay held onto its beauty.
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